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| Chapter XI. Of the manifold meaning of the Holy Scriptures.
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Chapter XI.
Of the manifold meaning of the Holy Scriptures.
But as the renewal of our
soul grows by means of this study, Scripture also will begin to put on
a new face, and the beauty of the holier meanings will somehow grow
with our growth. For their form is adapted to the capacity of
man’s understanding, and will appear earthly to carnal people,
and divine to spiritual ones, so that those to whom it formerly
appeared to be involved in thick clouds, cannot apprehend its
subtleties nor endure its light. But to make this which we are aiming
at somewhat clearer by an instance, it will be enough to produce a
single passage of the law, by which we can prove that all the heavenly
commands as well are applied to men in accordance with the measure of
our state. For it is written in the law: “Thou shalt not commit
adultery.”1896
This is
rightly observed according to the simple meaning of the letter, by a
man who is still in bondage to foul passions. But by one who has
already forsaken these dirty acts and impure affections, it must be
observed in the spirit, so that he may forsake not only the worship of
idols but also all heathen superstitions and the observance of auguries
and omens and all signs and days and times, or at any rate that he be
not entangled in the conjectures of words and names which destroy the
simplicity of our faith. For by fornication of this kind we read that
Jerusalem was defiled, as she committed adultery “on every high
hill and under every green tree,”1897
whom also the Lord rebuked by the
prophet, saying: “Let now the astrologers stand and save thee,
they that gazed at the stars and counted the months, that from them
they might tell the things that shall come to thee,”1898
of which fornication elsewhere
also
the Lord says in
rebuking them: “The spirit of fornication deceived them, and they
went a whoring from their God.”1899
But one who has forsaken both these
kinds of fornication, will have a third kind to avoid, which is
contained in the superstitions of the law and of Judaism; of which the
Apostle says: “Ye observe days and months and times and
years;” and again: Touch not, taste not, handle
not.”1900
And there is no
doubt that this is said of the superstitions of the law, into which one
who has fallen has certainly gone a whoring from Christ, and is not
worthy to hear this from the Apostle: “For I have espoused you to
one husband, to exhibit you as a chaste virgin to
Christ.”1901
But this that
follows will be directed to him by the words of the same Apostle:
“But I am afraid lest as the serpent by his cunning deceived Eve,
so your minds should be corrupted and fall from the simplicity which is
in Christ Jesus.”1902
But if one has
escaped the uncleanness even of this fornication there will still be a
fourth, which is committed by adulterous intercourse with heretical
teaching. Of which too the blessed Apostle speaks: “I know that
after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not
sparing the flock, and of yourselves also shall arise men speaking
perverse things so as to lead astray the disciples after
them.”1903
But if a man has
succeeded in avoiding even this, let him beware lest he fall by a more
subtle sin into the guilt of fornication. I mean that which consists in
wandering thoughts, because every thought which is not only shameful
but even idle, and departing in however small a degree from God is
regarded by the perfect man as the foulest
fornication.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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